12 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. • 



ever, the terms and phrases which scientific men have, from time 

 to time adopted as appropriately descriptive of Ichthyological 

 subjects and facts, are, to the majority of us, " heathen Greek." 

 It is not strange that it should be so, for there has been little, or 

 no effort to familiarize the people, whether old or young, with 

 them. Books on this subject are comparatively rare and costly, 

 and the few in existence are better calculated for those already 

 adepts, than as guides to the first rudimentary principles, leading 

 the young inquirer to a full knowledge of the science in all its 

 branches. 



Hence arises the fact that, although the fishermen of Maine are 

 among the most enterprising, intelligent and shrewd of the peo- 

 ple — are well versed in all the technicalities of practical seamanship, 

 whether in calm or in storm, understand thoroughly the habits 

 of most of the fishes they pursue, and are perfectly acquainted with 

 the best modes of taking, curing and preparing them for dietetical, 

 commercial and economical purposes, but very few of them could 

 point out the true scientific distinctive characteristics between a 

 cod and a sculpin. 



As before remarked, they cannot be blamed for this, so long as 

 the avenues to knowledge in this department of natural history 

 are virtually closed against them. Indeed, I found it sufficiently 

 difficult, during the writing of this report, to obtain some of the 

 standard authors on Ichthyology, for the purposes of reference, and 

 the clearing up of points on which the mind was in doubt.* 



To obviate, in some degree, this difficulty, I have thought it 

 advisable to incorporate into this report, some of the general ele- 

 mentary principles of Ichthyology, by which the subject matter 

 might be more clearly elucidated and. better understood. What I 

 have given is designed to aid the student in his investigations of 

 this branch of natural science, so that his "pursuit of knowledge" 



* But one work of the kind could be found in the State Library, where, it is but 

 fair to expect the student would be enabled to find all the more expensive works on 

 every subject, and this belonging to the select class which bears the inscription, 

 " 7tot to be taken from tlie Library.'" As further proof of the difficulty of obtaining 

 elementary instruction in this department of natural history, Worcester's Dictionary 

 may be cited. The publishers of that work boast of it as being the best of the kind 

 in use for giving and defining scientific terras and phrases. On examination, you 

 will find that, in Botany, Ornithology, and some other branches, nearly all the terms 

 used are put down well explained and al.'io illustrated by small neat wood cuts ; but 

 for the strictly Ichthyological terms you will seek in vain. It is true a few of the 

 more common ones may be found, but no wood cut illustrates them to the eye. 



